Chapter 1 Introduction

This Mushrooms are fleshy, spore-bearing reproductive structures of fungi grown on organic
substrates and for a long time, have played an important role as a human food due to its nutritional
and medicinal properties [1]. Mushrooms are a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals and
are known to have a broad range of uses both as food and medicine. A high nutritional values of
oyster mushrooms has been reported with protein (25-50%), fat (2-5%), sugars (17-47%),
mycocellulose (7-38%) and minerals (potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium) of about 8-12% [2].
Edible mushrooms are also rich in vitamins such as niacin, riboflavin, vitamin D, C, B1, B5 and B6 [3].
Oyster mushroom can be grown on various substrates including paddy straw, maize stalks/cobs,
vegetable plant residues, bagasse etc. [4]. This has been reported to influence its growth, yield and
composition [5, 6]. However, an ideal substrate should contain nitrogen (supplement) and
carbohydrates for rapid mushroom growth [7]. Oyster mushroom cultivation can play an important
role in managing organic wastes whose disposal has become a problem. Malnutrition is a problem in
developing countries and these wastes can be recycled into food and environment may be less
endangered by pollution [8]. Many of mushrooms pose a range of metabolites of intense interest to
pharmaceutical e.g. antitumour, immunomodulatory, antigenotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
hypocholesterolaemic, antihypertensive, antiplateletaggregating, antihyperglycaemic, antimicrobial
and antiviral activities ( antitumour, immunomodulation agents, and hypocholesterol-aemic agents
and food (e.g. flavor compound) industries [9]. Cultivated mushrooms have higher protein contents
and minerals, low in fat and rich in vitamins B, vitamin D, vitamin K and sometimes vitamins A and C
[10]. Pakistan is an agricultural country having 70% of its total population being pursued in
agriculture directly or indirectly [11]. Agricultural waste material of wheat and paddy straw is
reported to be about 11.0 and 3.2 million tonns per annum respectively, which increased to about
19.27, 5.16 and 1.35 million tonns of wheat, rice and maize straw during the year 1995-2000
respectively [12] that could be used for the cultivation of mushrooms. China is the major producer of
oyster mushroom. The common method of cultivation of oyster mushroom in Zimbabwe is bag
culture which requires bulk substrates. Tray cultivation has been used elsewhere with varying degree
of success for the production of oyster and shiitake mushroom [13]. It is unfortunate that in Pakistan
and Azad Kashmir, mushrooms have not caught the imagination of the public at large scale to
become an important food item, perhaps the reason for not being taken up widely is non availability
of mushrooms at low prices and lack of knowledge [14]. There is an urgent need to develop
diversified agriculture in the Pakistan. The present work was carried out with objectives to evaluate
the effect of basal substrate supplement such as paddy and wheat straw with cotton waste on oyster